Landslide

A landslide is a mass of rock, earth, and/or debris that moves down a slope. This can occur quickly or slowly depending on the circumstances.

Impacts

Depending on the magnitude of the slide, the impacts can vary.

Loss of Life & Damage to Personal Property

Many landslides, like flash floods, occur at night catching people unaware. If advance warning is given by authorities, having a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio with an alert function could wake you up so that you can react accordingly. Foundations, chimneys, and other rigid structures can be damaged by landslides through only slight shifting. These can be costly to repair, which is another reason to ensure that your insurance covers these events ahead of time.

Damage to Routes of Transportation

Roads through canyons, such as the Snake River Canyon and the Hoback Canyon, are especially prone to landslides. These slides can be small causing minor interruptions, or very large taking days to remove. Since these are major arteries into and out of Teton County, they can affect businesses, travelers, and commuters directly.

Increased Risk of Flooding

Unless the area is able to be rehabilitated, the loss of vegetation can increase the risk of flooding in the area for the foreseeable future.

Damaged Underground Utilities

Underground utilities may take a long time to repair depending on the extent of the damage. This can delay your return home following a landslide.